My relationship to Halloween has changed a lot over the years. Obviously I loved it as a child, as a teenager/young adult I got trapped in the sexy cat propaganda but it was still fun, then over the years it slowly but surely started to become a drag. It always starts with “we should do something” and ends with me the day of that “something” trying to figure out a costume, then it ends with me taking off that half-baked costume at the end of the night wishing I had stayed home.
If you feel anything like me, I’m here for you, and I have some inky red wine that will make it look like you are drinking blood and possibly stain your teeth. You can do this to be festive and/or stay your ass at home on that couch, you can add it as a prop, or you can bring it to a gathering. The possibilities are endless, but most importantly… delicious.
Regional Spotlight: Five Weeks of Georgia - Racha-Lechkhumi
Before the blood, you know we have to make another pit stop in Georgia. This week’s region is small, very mountainous, and home to some of the most unique and rare indigenous grapes.
Located in northwestern Georgia, all of its vineyards sit on high elevation, sloping mountains. It’s cool there, but also very humid, so their grapes can ripen slowly and retain acid but also accumulate a little sugar. It’s a small production region, and that sugar is it’s signature, as most of its wine is naturally semi-sweet. It’s broken into two distinct wine growing regions Racha and Lechkhumi, both becoming protected designations of origin just last year.
Here are the grapes you need to know in the region, most of which you won’t find anywhere else in Georgia:
Aleksandrouli (red): The region’s star! Very fruit forward with flavors of red berry and cherry.
Mujuretuli (red): This is rarely a single varietal, it’s typically paired with Aleksandrouli to balance the fruit with acid and that signature sweetness.
Usakhelouri (red): Very rare! If you see it, buy it because you may not see it again. It’s elegant, aromatic, and often semi-sweet.
Tsolikouri (white): We’ve seen this one on our Georgia travels, so not rare, but from Racha Lechkhumi these take on a whole new personality and ripeness.
Tsulukidze Tetra (white): Now this is their local white, it can be dry or amber.
Rachuli Dzelshavi (red): Another local red, and much lesser known on the Georgian red scene.
Their grapes are interesting, but what makes the region really interesting is what they do with it. Yes, their winemaking styles lean semi-sweet, but don’t be scared, they are known for being very well balanced. When shopping, here are the two styles to look for:
Khvanchkara: This is their signature of the region, it’s a red blend with a decent amount of sweetness but it’s also packed with acid. It’s not a dessert wine by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s challenging the notion that all Georgian wine needs to be dry to be drinkable. And please note: that sweetness is natural, it comes from the actual grape, no added sugar over here.
Tvishi: This is their signature white blend, also semi sweet. Natural sweetness, acid, and ripe fruit flavors.
As always, here are some producers to check out, I sadly haven’t had any of the wine from this region yet so r/wine was very helpful here. But, I will be sourcing from some of these producers very soon. I’ll report back once I do.
Wine in Culture: Obligatory Halloween Content
Is this a safe place, can I admit something? I love red wine stained teeth. It feels like evidence of a great time, and with the right look, it feels chic. However, I must preface, this list of “blood wine,” may not produce red stained teeth. Honestly, it never happens to me. My lips can darken a bit, but overall, my teeth remain unchanged. The staining comes from the pigments in red wine (Anthocyanins), but also can depend person to person based on how much saliva you produce (this creates a protective film on your teeth and affects how substances interact with your enamel) and how much water you are drinking. But, if you want to get in the holiday spirit and drink deeply colored wine that could appear blood-like and possibly stain your teeth for a spell, this is the place for you.
First, what gives wine that deep color?
Anthocyanins: pigments in the grape skins
Maceration: How long a wine had contact with those grape skins
Tannins: Not the full story, but can contribute to the color
Aging: Wine changes color as it ages, this can deepen the color over time
Deeply colored red wine is just sexy. It gives Dracula, vampires, and baroque candle-lit rooms. Here are some varietals to look for no matter your Halloween plans:
Saperavi: A Georgian grape! This is very special one because not only are you getting pigments from the skin of the grape, it’s also coming from the flesh. It’s a teinturier grape, unlike “normal” grapes that have almost clear flesh, this grape’s is pigmented. It’s not the only one out there, but it is the darkest. With this one you will get that very deep color (almost opaque), dark fruit flavors such as black cherry and blueberry, lots of acid and strong strong tannins, and so much spice. Be careful when you’re shopping, they can sometimes be made semi-sweet, look for “dry” on the label.
Tannat: This is a fun grape with a lot of personality. It’s originally from France, but Uruguay put it on the map. It’s concentrated, but with Uruguay’s Atlantic influences it packs a punch, but still has an element of freshness. You’ll get flavors of plum, dark cherries, spice, and your mouth will be very dry - perfect for that blood drinking look. Also, I’ve had some inky Tannats from California too (great structure and grip) if you can’t find one from Uruguay.
Sagrantino: From Umbria Italy, this variety has a very intense color and substantial tannins, but for these I would look for a little age to get the full effect. You’ll get flavors of dark cherry, blackberry, cocoa, tobacco, and some herbal notes. These can sometimes be a splurge, you’ve been warned.
Petite Sirah: California is known for deep, jammy wines but this one stands out for me. You may get some of that jam depending on the producer, but you’ll likely get flavors of blackberry, plum, pepper, and smoke. I had one recently and I also got flavors of mocha. It’s usually very deep in the glass, and the body is literally almost blood-like. You could try a Red Zinfandel here, but I think Petites have them slightly beat on deepness.
Aglianico: For this one, age is a requirement. When it’s young it looks more like a pinot noir, but with some age, it’s almost purple it’s so deep. From Campania, you’ll get flavors of dark cherry, savory herbs, earthy notes, and of course lots of tannins. If you are planning a rare steak dinner for your festivities, choose this one.
Malbec: Argentina’s crown jewel. This is always my go to when I’m looking for a deep wine experience, and it’s usually the best bang for your buck. There are French versions, but I would stick to Mendoza when shopping for maximum effect. You’ll get cocoa, violet, tobacco, spice and blackberry flavors from this one.
As always, give these babies a slight chill (65 degrees) and if you can serve them out of a chalice of sorts to get in the spirit. Just one word of warning, while deep color doesn’t automatically translate to high ABV most of these are 13.5% and higher, with the exception of Saperavi which can sometimes be as low as 12%. Celebrate safely, friends, and don’t bite anyone (unless they want you to). Happy Halloween!
Wine in My Glass: Suavia Soave Classico 2024
If you’ve been keeping up, you know that I am fresh off the heels of a lake house weekend with my oldest friends. What you don’t know is I also purchased 22 bottles for the weekend, every bottle from a different country no less. Every single bottle was consumed (hold your gasp, there were 8 of us), however, to me there was one clear winner from the weekend in terms of taste, balance, and drinkability while cackling and howling.
We don’t talk about Soave enough and that really bothers me. It’s traditionally made from at least 70% Gargangea and it’s from the Veneto region, and when I learned about it while studying and actually tried it, I was sick that this wonderful wine has been hidden from me.
Since I was in the Chicagoland area (before heading to the lake), you know I had to make a Binny’s run. That place really is iconic. Here’s the Soave I found. Overall, it has flavors of peach, honeydew, saline, and a nutty/almond flavor. It’s honestly the perfect expression of Soave, and similar to the ones that initially made me fall in love with the varietal. It has a heavier body, but ironically doesn’t feel heavy going down. It’s just such a delight and I wasn’t alone in my love, it was a crowdpleaser and barely lasted 10 mins. You’ll love it. Cheers!
Nice article! Aleksandrouli is my favorite red and Kisi is my favorite white grapes of Georgia. And visiting Georgia a few years back was an amazing experience!